Best moments of the Shield season

Head’s stunning one-hander off Marsh

Intent on proving his fitness ahead of Australia’s first Test of the summer, Shaun Marsh looked to be in full flight on the first day of the Sheffield Shield season. That was before Redbacks captain Travis Head held on to this teriffic one-handed catch off his bowling with the left-hander on 73.

Handscomb posts double-ton in vital Shield round

All eyes were on the third round of the Sheffield Shield after the majority of Australia’s Test side was sent back to play for their states in the wake of their fifth straight defeat in Hobart. With Steve Smith leading the Blues, Handscomb racked up a brilliant 215 for Victoria to give national selectors virtually no option but to hand him a Baggy Green for Australia’s next Test in Adelaide.  

Bulls’ late triumph prompts delighted celebrations

Off-spinner Jason Floros sealed victory for Queensland with just 12 balls left on the final day of their match against SA, after Chadd Sayers’ defensive push rolled back onto his stumps, sparking raucous celebrations from the delighted Bulls players.

Ice-cool Lehmann gets Redbacks home in a thriller

On an incredible final day that saw 17 wickets tumble, Jake Lehmann got South Australia home by two wickets after the Redbacks had earlier that day skittled the NSW for just 87. One of the most memorable games of the Shield season.

Green's historic debut

While his first ball in first-class cricket was a no-ball, Western Australia 17-year-old Cameron Green quickly made amends by becoming the youngest player in the competition's history to take a five-wicket haul on debut. The fast-bowling allrounder picked up 12 wickets in his first three games for the Warriors at the back-end of the summer and looks to be one of the brightest young prospects in domestic cricket.

Henriques, Nevill put on record stand 

NSW pair Moises Henriques and Peter Nevill came together in the Blues’ first dig with their side at 4-197. Henriques departed nearly 100 overs later with the score at 588 as the ex-Australia duo put on 391 for the fifth-wicket, the sixth-highest partnership in Shield history.

Richardson’s direct-hit run-out from the boundary

It’s not often you get run-out attempting a third run but Scott Boland was caught just short of his ground after Redbacks quick Kane Richardson hit the woodwork from the boundary to pull off a stunning dismissal. 

Behrendorff enters the record books

Playing in hisfirst Shield game after returning from a broken leg, Western Australia paceman Jason Behrendorff almost singlehandedly led the Warriors to victory inside two days. His first-innings 9-37, which he followed up with 5-52 in Victoria’s second-innings, were the best figures recorded in the competition in half a century.

‘That is one of the best catches you’ll see’

It might not be the most spectacular of grabs, but for pure glovework it’s hard to go past this very tidy effort from recalled Tasmania gloveman Tim Paine standing up to seamer Sam Rainbird. 

Cooper out stumped in bizarre fashion

Redbacks batsman Tom Cooper would have had a difficult time explaining this one; batting out of his crease to Blues quick Trent Copeland, the right-hander shouldered arms but dropped his bat in his attempt to make his ground, as Peter Nevill’s hopeful shy caught a devastated Cooper short.

Michael Neser: Master of the inswinger

It’s fair to say Queensland swing king Michael Neser enjoyed the post-Christmas switch to the Dukes ball. He backed up his stump-seeking missile to dumbfounded Tasmania opener Jake Hancock in February with another searing in-ducker that accounted for Victoria skipper Cameron White.

Pattinson takes 5-7, rolls Bulls for 61

Test quick James Pattinson had a day out in Brisbane, snaring 5-7 and at one stage threatening to consign Queensland to their lowest-ever Sheffield Shield total when they were reduced to 7-22. They ‘recovered’ to be bowled out for 61 as the Bushrangers stormed to a top-placed finish.

Fawad forgets his bat

After earlier in the match claiming a wicket off his first of the Shield season, Victoria leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed lived out every cricketer’s worst nightmare when he forgot one crucial bit of equipment when walking out to bat. Thankfully for the Bushrangers, he hung around long enough for…

Tremain’s unlikely maiden century

“Embarassed” at his previous highest score of just 29 from his previous 31 first-class matches,Chris Tremain took full advantage of his chance to bat up the orderas a nightwatchman. The Victoria quick brought up his first Shield ton with two sixes in Alice Springs.

WA deny Blues’ final berth in final-round thriller

The Warriors’ hopes of making the competition decider evaporated earlier in the day when news filtered through of South Australia’s win over Tasmania. But that didn’t stop them from sending veteran Adam Voges out on a high in his final Shield match, not to mention denying NSW a spot in the final. The Blues fell just short of chasing down 402 in the fourth-innings, losing seven wickets after tea on the last day to suffer an agonising six-run defeat with 10 balls left.